In the span of the past year or so, the Masland Library has upgraded the study areas in the building in order to provide the students of Cairn University with greater comfort for the long hours of reading, a quieter atmosphere for quality study sessions, and even more advanced technology options for those of us who forget our laptops, phone chargers, or earphones all the way down in Heritage Hall. Some of these additions are obvious and exciting – others are subtle, yet essential to the academic success and the mental sanity of the students of the university. The exciting additions are as follows:

BRAND NEW headphones, ones that fit most head sizes. These headphones are classy, comfortable and sound-cancelling (for the most part). Not only will you experience quality sound, but you also get a quality look as you jam out to your tunes. No more of those clunky, old, space antennas that we used to offer. (Unless you really liked the space antennas. We still have those.)

The downstairs computer lab has been magically transformed into a quiet study space for those of you that don’t want to be affected by the not-so-whispered conversations and the sound of books dropping in the main part of the library. Use this space for individual study – NOT for group study. (We have private study rooms available for groups to have space to discuss and work together. Check out keys for the study rooms at the front desk!*) Specialities of the quiet study space involve super big and comfy chairs, large work areas (a few of which resemble dining room tables), and inspirational pieces of art to stimulate your brain.

We now have CHROMEBOOKS available for check-out! These sleek little pieces of technology are a great tool for those days when you spill your coffee all over your MacBook, when you forgot your power cord in your dorm room, or when you just want to try out some new technology. The Chromebooks can be checked out for 2 hours at a time, but they have to stay in the library. Make sure you treat them as if they were your own, because if you don’t.. Well.. it might cost you something**.

Finally, the most exciting addition of all. The Masland Library has FINALLY – after years of tears, petitions, pleas, suggestion cards, threats, and stiff backs – added BEANBAGS to your library experience. These beanbags serve many purposes, of few of which I will name.

WHAT BEANBAGS ARE FOR

Sitting on

Taking that inevitable study break nap

Hanging out with your friends in comfort (quietly, of course***)

Writing papers and doing research while feeling like you’re enveloped in a cloud

Generally enjoying because they are soft and fluffy and big and lovely and infinitely better than the chairs

WHAT BEANBAGS NOT FOR

Throwing over the second floor balcony. Seriously. No. That’s how people die.

Canoodling. Shenanigans. You know what I mean. All those Cairn couples out there.. One person per beanbag, please. PDA to the minimum, please. For everyone else’s sake, please.. Leave room for Jesus.

Eating food. These beanbags are in pristine (kind of) condition and deserve to be treated with respect to keep them as beautiful and comfortable as they are now. Also, you’re not allowed to be eating food in the library anyways****, so.. Keep that in mind as you enjoy the fluff.

Building forts. Those suckers are pretty hefty, so keep them on the floor, okay*****? It’s better for everyone that way.

Take advantage of all of these upgrades******! They are here to make your life easier, happier, and less stressful. Happy Thursday!

* Seriously. We will ask you to relocate to a noise-friendly area of the library.

** Cost you something like the price of a Chromebook. Or your technology-using privileges.

*** Seriously. We will call security to escort you from the premises in handcuffs if you can’t keep your voices down. Well.. maybe not in handcuffs, but.. Be respectful, okay?

**** Nobody likes ants and rodents hanging out by the beanbags, right? Right. Keep the crumbs in the library. Seriously.

***** Seriously. Do your back and your tired limbs a favor and leave them on the floor.

****** Seriously!! We want you to be here and we have these resources for your enjoyment and convenience.

Vulnerability can be defined as the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. And nothing stings more than the vulnerability of uttering those three little words: “I don’t know.” It’s a phrase that clings to the vocal cords like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth, and we have to use it more times than not if we’re honest with ourselves. If all the knowledge to be obtained were a circle, the knowledge any one college student possesses would be nothing more than a pen dot within it.

In fact, as students, ours is a position characterized by lacking knowledge and depending on those who have gone before us so that we may grow our minds and perceptions. These predecessors lead us to ask questions and dive into the abyss of research possibilities, which is exciting . . . until you realize you have three papers to write, two exams to study for, and that huge social event that simply cannot be missed.

Thankfully, there are people and offices established all over campus to support students as we endeavor to unfold the mystery that is navigating adulthood and intellect. In the ARC there are people who are trained to help you manage your schedule and optimize study time. Likewise, the library has experienced staff with hearts ready to serve any student needing assistance.

Laura Saloiye, a Cairn University alumna, has worked at Cairn since 2001, first as a student and, beginning in 2008, as a librarian. In addition to her pleasant personality, Laura has a copious knowledge of the research process and the Masland Library resources that can help any student better utilize all the library has to offer. She is one of the most beneficial tools the Masland Library has to offer the students at Cairn University. The entire Cairn community can learn how to efficiently research and eloquently sift through depths of knowledge which extend well beyond the limits of the many pages on our shelves. You need only ask.

~Theresa Yandell

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

I spent the majority of this past summer working in the Masland Library. Okay, insert reader commentary:

Reader: “WHATTT? The library is open during the summer???”

Why, yes, dear reader! The library is open for Monday-Saturday during summer classes and Monday-Friday for the rest of the summer. If you do decide to stop in anytime after summer classes are completed, you will likely see student workers among the bookshelves, preparing the library for the coming school year. This past summer, myself and several other student workers were given the task of shifting almost every book in the main section of the library. In the course of this tedious-but-necessary task, one man’s name seemed to appear over and over:

No matter what section we were shifting that day, Karl Barth had either written a book on it or someone had written a book about Karl Barth’s thoughts on the matter. I have done no research on who exactly Karl Barth is and why he has so many opinions about everything, so it does not really make sense that I am writing a blog post about him. However, I believe in you, reader, and your researching ability. I just searched his name in the library catalog and was given over 300 results, so he is probably an important person. So, go! Find out who this man is! Maybe write him a letter asking him to please calm down and stop writing so many books that I have to shelve. Here’s a couple books that are in our library collection about good ol’ Karl:

ï There are DVDs you can check out. That’s right; the Masland Library has a collection of DVDs that you can check out as a student. Here are just some of the movies that are available: Gone With the Wind, Planet of the Apes, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hobbit, Downtown Abbey, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Star Wars (episodes 4, 5, 6), and Shakespearean plays. So, if you want a movie night with some friends, but you’re in need of a good movie, come over to the library and we’ll help you out.

ï There is an ongoing book sale. The book sale is down the steps and to the left on the first level of the library. There are many books as well as some cassettes and VHS tapes. Everything is very well priced and is worth a look.

ï There are free books. FREE?! Yes. FREE! As college students, we love free things; and guess what, you’re in luck. The library has a section of free books between the two entrance/exit doors. If you’re looking for a good read and a book you can keep – for free – check out the free book section during your next trip.

ï There is a color copier/printer. There are large copiers/printers on the first and second (mezzanine level) floors. However, the copier/printer on the first floor only uses black and white ink. If you want to copy or print something in color, make sure you head up to the second floor (mezzanine level) and utilize the large color copier/printer up there. It works in the same way as the way on the floor, so you should be a pro at operating it. However, if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask one of the library workers.

ï There is a juvenile section and a curriculum lab. If you have a love for children’s books or if you’re an education major, this is just for you! These two sections are located on the second floor (mezzanine level) in the back right. Feel free to utilize and enjoy them as much as you desire and relive some of your childhood.

ï There are conference rooms you can utilize. Are you and your friends (or study group) looking for a quiet place to study? If so, come to the front desk and ask to check out a key for one of the three conference rooms. You can check these out in two hour increments any time that the library is open. You can also renew them if you need to, just not overnight.

During the month of March is an obscure holiday celebrated by the Irish and the Irish “at heart” with much enthusiasm. But what is the real reason for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? Is it merely celebrating the Irish heritage of loud boisterous parties flowing with alcohol, parades in New York City and Dublin, Ireland, and wearing green? Or could it mean something more, especially to Christians both in the United States and Ireland? To find out the true meaning for the “wearing o’ the green”, I used the Masland Library databases to increase my understanding of St. Patrick.

St. Patrick was born to an aristocratic family in Britain in the fourth century. While he was a young man, Patrick was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland where he was enslaved for six years. Due to this enslavement, Patrick never learned to read and is known as having a poor rhetoric because he was never taught the rhetoric of Britain. Patrick, however, learned a different type of rhetoric that allowed him to return to Ireland as an evangelist.

Patrick’s story is inspiring to me as a Christian. First, instead of resenting God and walking away from him because he was enslaved, Patrick used his knowledge of how the Irish thought and learned as a means of bringing them Gospel. When Patrick was able to return to Britain after six years in slavery, he became a bishop for the Roman Catholic Church and was called by God back to Ireland. A second way that Patrick inspires me is that God was able to use him to evangelize an entire barbarian country without a formal education! Because of being enslaved at the age of 15, Patrick did not receive the formal education he would have due to his family’s status in society. We can know based on Patrick’s life that God is able to use anyone at any academic level to spread his Gospel to those who haven’t heard. Finally, Patrick inspires me because he answered God’s calling in his life to be an evangelist to Ireland. When his critics were asked why Patrick returned to Ireland, they replied “He was compelled by God and called by the need of Irish.” If Patrick had not listened to God’s call for his return to Ireland, many Anglo-Americans would have a different life than the one they have today.

Although St. Patrick lived 1600 years ago as a contemporary of St. Augustine, his life and works still have an impact on not only Irish culture but also on the entirety of Christianity. So when you pull out your green this year and watch the parades (or pinch people for not wearing green), remember this incredible story about a man who followed God to a barbarian land and evangelized an entire country. To find out more about St. Patrick, his life and writings, check out the articles “St. Patrick in Fact and Fiction” by A. Haire Forster and “’Ego Patricius, peccator rusticissimus’: The Rhetoric of St. Patrick of Ireland” by Paul Lynch. You can search for these articles on Ebscohost and also the various books in the Library about St. Patrick.

1.They overhear everything: What you qualify as a whisper probably isn’t as quiet as you thought. Student Workers overhear a lot in the library (and they’re not even invisible). Wearing headphones, taking calls outside, and actually whispering will help keep your secret schemes under wraps. But don’t worry, library workers are sworn to secrecy when it comes to classified information like your academic record.

2.They have gadgets: If you’ve ever seen a library worker sneaking around with a hand-held device, they aren’t scanning your retinas or looking at blueprints. These little gizmos keep track of how many times books have been used, but not checked out. This is why we ask you to leave your used books on the carts around the library or at your table – as evidence.

3.They use secret staircases: Actually, the back staircase is probably well-known to regular library blog readers. But did you know that while it’s the perfect place to take phone calls, and a speedy way to reach the second floor, it also offers a great spying view of anyone by the pond?

4.They consult high-tech databases: Nearly everything a Library Worker needs to know can be found either in their training manuals or in the limited-access online databases. If you’re a Cairn student, you too have access to these stockpiles of information. If you’re having trouble accessing or using a database, one of these Student Workers or a librarian can help you.

5.They wear a badge: Nothing says “elite” like the shiny faux-gold of a library nametag. These badges are proudly worn by (undisguised) library employees who would be happy to serve you the next time you need help accessing information!

If you’re at the point in the semester where the study carrels cause claustrophobia, the open tables tempt you to torture anyone turning a page of a large theology tome, or the comfortable couches create comatose conditions – why not try a study room? Many students already know about the three conference rooms, aka study rooms, found on the first floor of the library near the Biblical Reference section. If not, though, may I, as a friendly student assistant, present an alternative to your usual homework habitation. They’re in the back of the library, so they’re secluded/ But with finals week upon us, it’s easy to unintentionally forget common etiquette that we should use in any public place.

Below are some common calamities that I have seen occurring while people are using study rooms. While studying, please use this handy list to avoid making these same common pitfalls that cause conference room catastrophe!

1. Talk in Thunderous Tones. It’s easy to think that because the study room has a door and offers privacy that the rest of the library can’t hear you. Sadly, the study room is not a vortex. Laughter, jokes, and loud study groups can all be heard outside the walls, and often distracts others. Imagine how frightening it is to be looking through commentaries on Revelation in the Biblical Reference section and suddenly hear laughter…disembodied laughter. Spare others the terror, please!

2. Chew on Chow.Covered drinks are fine – we provide complimentary hot drinks during finals week, after all. But don’t forget the library’s no-food policy! It’s tempting to want to eat in a study room because it’s so convenient and you’re already camped out, but please don’t. You will be spared the guilt of eating in a place that requests you not to bring food, and the indigestion of having to eat your Wawa hoagie quickly before a librarian walks by and notices. Please take the few steps to the back stairwell or up to the lobby, instead, to enjoy your meal in guilt-free peace. Trust me, your digestive system will thank you.

3. Steal a Siesta. One of the best parts about study rooms is how non-judgmental they are. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis that is incredibly egalitarian – whether you are one student or a group. And like the comfortable couch on the mezzanine level, the study rooms have a sort of soporific effect on some students. This is especially true during finals week, where we stay open an extra hour from Sunday-Tuesday night. I encourage you strongly to resist these urges to sleep away when studying gets boring! If you’re exhausted, there’s nothing wrong with closing your eyes a little. But prolonged naps might not just have other students wanting to take over the study room – they might accidentally get you locked into a study room for the night (yes, that almost happened once)…or maybe just have a picture of you sleeping in the library end up on FaceBook.

4. Disremember Your Key’s Deadline. Don’t forget that the rooms are reserved for only two hours at a time (although groups can reserve them in advance through contacting Laura Saloiye). Be conscientious – you can renew your key one time, but if it’s a busy night, chances are that there are other groups waiting to study. When you’re in the middle of a project that’s worth 35% of your final grade, it’s so easy to forget that others also need the rooms… and to forget when your key is due, resulting in several unnecessary fines accrued on accounts. The study rooms are there for your needs, so take advantage of them. But don’t forget to remember the needs of others while at it. And don’t forget the whereabouts of the little key that lets you into the room to begin with!

5. Sit in Silence and Shadows While Snickering at Your Shenanigans. Yes, this has also happened before…in the dark…while another student worker and I were closing the library, initially thinking that there was no one left in the study rooms. I don’t think that I really need to talk about this one too much, but in a nutshell, I propose that this might not be the best method of handling the tension and stress of finals.

Study rooms are a great tool to help you be successful on your finals or studying throughout the year. Finals week is always crazy, but avoiding these oh-so-tempting pitfalls will help you make your study room experience during finals more productive, enjoyable, and successful. Happy studying!

It’s finals week, a time that for many can be filled with great amounts of stress. Many of you may start to see your news feeds littered with stories of those who decided to cheat in order to pass with various creative methods. Some of them will get caught, but I am here to share with you a foolproof method for cheating on finals.

The first thing to do is find out what is going to be on the test. You can usually find this information in the syllabus, or on eLearning. If you can’t find any information there, just ask the professor. Sometimes hiding in plain sight is the least suspicious thing you can do.

You will need a secure location for the next step. I recommend the library study rooms for their unrivaled privacy and lack of interruption. (The library also provides coffee during finals week to fuel your diabolical plans. It is also open for an extra hour on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday) Remember to prepare ahead of time. Last second attempts almost always fail or get caught.

This next step is the most important. You need to take the information that you know will be on the final and write it onto your memory. Repetition is your friend here. Flash cards and mnemonic devices can help here too. This is very important as the teacher CANNOT see what is inside of your head. You can hide any amount of information in there with little to no repercussions.

Get a good night’s rest. You’ll need it.

Finally, on the day of the test, confidence is key. Walk through the door in the least suspicious way you can muster. Write down all the information that you “snuck in” and leave to avoid suspicion. Remember, the teacher has NO way of knowing that you have all the answers. Unless you tell him or her, you will NOT get caught.

If you made it this far and followed all the steps you should be good to go. Be sure to laugh at all the other students who are “studying.” You know better. Enjoy your break.

No, don’t worry, we don’t have people’s diaries on display in the library…so what are they? A journal is a collection of articles published by a particular reliable academic source by a specific magazine or group that addresses particular topics.

So for example, when searching for an article published in the TIME magazine several years ago, the way to find that would be to go to the TIME Journals, which are the bound TIME magazines all set in one location for you to use! If you’re interested in the hard copy, you will find all the journals alphabetically organized on the first floor of the Masland library. Not only can you access them in hard copy at the Library, but some journals are also found online.

One way to access the electronic journal is through the databases. If you’ve searched for an article and find that the source is from TIME magazine but don’t like this article you found, you can easily look at other articles that TIME magazine has published.

In this sample picture of an article, you can see the Title, Author, and Source. Clicking on the Blue “TIME” by the Source, the database will take you straight to a page where you can access the journal articles from those in the early 90s up to the most recent ones.

Then select your year, your issue, and scroll through the articles in this particular journal. Or if you’re interested in searching within the entirety of TIME magazine, click “Search within this publication” and find if there are any articles relating to your topic in TIME magazine.

It’s as easy as that! Start with the database; find your magazine, access your journal, search or browse within your publication and viola! You will have found the sources you need in no time. So next time you write a paper, remember that the first floor Journals may have more to help than you think!

Let’s be honest, sometimes the weekends seem a bit dead around here with many people heading home to be with family. It’s fun to go out with friends and try to do eventful things on the weekends, but typically that requires money, which many of us don’t have much of. Therefore, a great thing to fall back on is just hanging out with some friends and watching a movie.

Finding someone who has Netflix or a good selection of movies in their room can be difficult at times, but did you know that the library has movies? You can ask to look at them behind the front desk, or better yet, you can actually look up the whole list online! You can find this list by typing in “feature films” in the search bar at library.cairn.edu.

The list under featured films is most, but not all, of our movies; to find the complete list you can also go to library.cairn.edu/search/e and type in “PN 1997.2 or PN 1997.3”. You can browse through them, see what looks interesting, and the best part is that you don’t have to worry about driving anywhere. Although we may not have the widest selection to choose from there are several good movies. Cast Away, Enchanted, Star Wars Episodes 4-6, and Stranger Than Fiction are just a few of the movies that we have to offer.

Just remember, if you were hoping to watch a movie on Friday or Saturday night try and plan ahead a little because we close at 7pm on Friday and 6pm on Saturday. Have a great weekend!